Ess Lake
Ess Lake is a small lake in Montmorency County, about 16 miles northeast of Atlanta. It has a state forest campground and is known for bass, panfish and trout.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Reported in an old DNR survey
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Rainbow Trout
State campground page lists trout
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Ess Lake State Forest Campground boat launchRampBoat launch at the state forest campground, reached by M-33 and County Road 624.Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Ess Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Ess Lake ↗Local tips
- Max depth is about 51 feet, so look for fish near deeper water in summer.
- Fish panfish near weeds and docks in the shallower bays.
- Check current trout stocking before you plan a trout trip.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Michigan lakes
Torch Lake (Antrim County) Lake Charlevoix Burt Lake Mullett Lake Lake Gogebic Manistique Lake Black Lake Crystal Lake All Michigan lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.